Furnace-firing apparatus



May 22, i928. 1,670,626

A J. D. LALOR FURNAGE FIRING APPARATUS Filed June 30, 1925 Llheets-Shee'f, 1

W I TNESSES l l N VEN TOR:

. Jam l?. Laim;

- J. D. LALOR FURNACE FIRING :APPARATUS May22,192s. y lmz@ Filed June 30, 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fl X Lm @Y 9J XI' W1 TNESSES I NI "EN TOR dimwll Zalm",

eiiiciency yet Very low Patented May 22, 192s.

Ni'rso sfiA-Tizs-v PATENT oFFicE.

JAMES D. LALOB, OF

SYSTEM COMPANY, LAND.

EALTIMRE. MARYLAND, AssieNon lTo THE LALoE FUEL oIL nrc., or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A coaPoEATIoN or MAEY- r EUaNAcE-Emme APPARATUS.'

Appnoaaon nieu xunefao, 1925. seal No. 40,501.

This invention relates to firing apparatus adapted for consumption of oilsv or other fiuent combustibles, more particularly for domestic use in firing household furnaces and the like.

Myl invention is directed toward 'providing a firing apparatus ot the above character which is extremely coiiipactl so as to occupy a minimum space: self-contained for ease of installation: reliable in operation;

and free against flooding iiid against danger from explosion.

The foregoing and other advantages are readily attainable with thev typical embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, whereof Fig.

tions in section` to expose details which would be otherwise hidden. i Fig. II is a side'elevat-ion of the organization as viewed from the bottom of Fig. I.

Fig. III is a fragment-ary sectional View on a larger scale of the carbureting burner and associated parts taken' as indicated by .the arrows III--III in Fig. I.`

Fig. IV is a cross sectionalelevation in diversified pla'nes as indicated by the'dotand-dash line, IV-IV in Fig. III, and viewed in the direction of its terminal arrows.

Fig. V is across sectional view through the burner taken as indicated by the arrows VV in Fig. III. l

Fig. VI is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view. on a larger scale than Fig. III, showing the details of. the atomizing nozzle of the burner to better adyantage.

Figs. VII and VIII are perspective views showing component parts of the atomizing nozzle.

`Fig. IX is a fragmentary sectional eleva- -tion showing the autoii'iatic means yfor maintaining the proper proportioning` ,ill rot the combustion-supporting air with regard to the fuel delivered to the bui-ner. Fig. X is a detail sectional view o f the adjustable louver for controlling admission of air to the blower; and,

Fig. XI is a sectional view taken as indicated by the arows XI-XI in Fig. X.

Referring first to Figs. I and II, it will be observed that the various parts of the organization .are mounted upon a bed plate 14,

and'fol' a type ,intended` high in iu fuel consumption; l

I is a plan view` of the furnace-firing apparatus with certain por-A which isl generally of rectangular configuration and characterized by an upstanding peripheral flange 15 to retain any drippings of the fuel oil. Occu )ying the lower left 4diandcorner of this be lplate 14 (as consid,-

ered in' Fig. I), is 'a gear pump 16, of a suitabletype, to' which thel fuel oil is coi`iducted through .a pipe line 17, leading from a convenient source of supply (not shown), and from which'the oil is discharged under comparatively high pressure into piping 18 .that connects with a burner comprehensively indicated 19. Interposed inthe piping 18 are various necessary or desirable auxiliaries such as an automatic shut-oft valve 20, a

strainer or filter 21, a pressure gauge 22, and

hand valves 23, 24. Combustion-supporting air is concurrently supplied to the burner 19 by a centrifugal blower 25, occupying the upper left hand (Fig. I) corner of the bed plate 14. This blower 25 is actuated in the present instance byI an electric motor 26 which also drives the pump 16 through reductionl gearing 27.

lReferring now more in detail to the burncr 19, `the same will be observed to comprise a tubular body 28 which is directly coupled with the outlet 29 of the blower 25 and serves, for theV most part, -as a'conduit for thel combustionJsupporting air. Adjacent the outer end however, the tubular burner body 28 has formed in it, a comparatively short aiiial duct30 (see Figs. I, III and VI) which is turned laterally as shown at 31 for connection of the fuel pipe 18. An enlargement 32 at the opposite terminusof the ducty 30 provides a cavity to take the screw tip 33, illustrated in perspective in Fig. VIII, said tip being distinguished by a polygonal head 34, a circumferential flange 35 and an externally-threaded shank 36 with a hollow 37 Fig. VI. The base of the hollow 37 is coned as indicatedat 38. and counterbored at 39 for a purpose which will presently be;l explained, the counterbore 39 having outlet through a minuteaxial orifice 40 leading to` a concavity 41 in the face of the head 34. The tip 33 just described, together with the core-piece 42 separately detailed in Fig. VII, constitute the atomizer for breaking up the oil. This core-piece 42, although generally eylindric in configuration, has its front end 43 somewhat reduced diametrically and provided with a cone face 44; while its opposite enlarged to the form of a lian e 45. assembled as s own iii-Fig. VI, the -core piece 42 is almost wholly accommodated in the hollow 37 of the screw tip 33, with consequent formation of an annular chamber 46 around the reduced portion\43 of said corepiece, and a small circular chamber 47 by closure. of the counter recess 39. A compres'- sible ring gasket 48,for example ot asbestos sheathed in copper, interposed behind the flanged end of the core-piece 42, not only prevents displaeeu'lent of the latter, but insures snug contact between the contiguous conical surfaces 38, 44 with the result that the chambers 46, 47 are isolated from one another except for communication by way of tangentially-disposed channels 49 in the sloping face of the corespiece 42 The annular chamber 37 also communicates with the fuel or axial duct 30 by way of branched passages 50 through the core-piece 42. As

-a consequence of this arrangement, the oil delivered under pressure by the duct 30, is conducted throu h the passages 50 of the core-piece 42 an into the annular chamber 46, wherein it is distributed to the tangential ychannels 49 for swirling within the small circular chamber 47, and expulsion through the restricted axial orifice 40 of the tip 33 as a finely-divided divergent spray.V

As shown in Figs. I. III and VI, the head 34 of thetip 33 projects into the axially apertured hub 52 of a whorl 53 with radial vanes 54 which span the annularspace 55 intervening between the fuel duct 30 andd the wall of the burner 19. The whorl 53 is screwed into the end of the tubular burner body 28; and a cap piece 56, with a convergently-tapered axial opening 57, in turn screwed'about the end of the burner`19 with provision of a clear space 59 which will hereinafter be referred to as the mixing chamber. Incidental to the constant operation of the blower 25. and by virtue of enforced traverse ythrough the whorl 53,the combustion-supporting air is gyratedI as it enters the mixing chamber 59 wherein it encounters the spray of atomized fuel issuing from the tip 33 of the nozzle with the result that the two are intimately commingled through enforced gyration, the combustible mixture attenuating in passing through the flared axial opening 57 of the cap iece'56, anddischarging at accelerated velocity/from the burner 19.

Such gaseous combustible :mixture -is directed by the burner into an aligned element 60, which. from its fnnetion,.may be con-f Asv best veniently termed an inductor.

shown in Fig. III, the body l61 of this in` duetor is of hollow frusto-conical configuration, and terminates in a. co-axial neck 62 adapted to project into the fir'e box opening F of the furnace (Fig. I), the union behen the parts -are tween the body and the furnace bein made air tight by a acket J of cement or t e like, as conventions. 1y shown. The inductor body 61 is closed by a frontal plate 63 secured v by screws or other .conve-nient fastening tion in the assemblage. `t the outer end the removable tube 65 is recessed as at 67 for accurate lit with a bell-shaped expand- -lng connector`68 provided for bridging the interval between the'bnrner 19 and the ini ductor 60. The smaller end of the expanding connector 68 is machined for accurate fit with the cap piece 56 of the burner 19,

said cap piece thus acting as a coupling'to l hold the several aligned parts in place. By

screwing the cap piece 56 inward on the burner body 28 to release`the connector 68, the tube 65 can be readily removed when acces-s must be had to the interior of the inductor 60 for inspection :and cleaning. Alsofiwith the expanding connector 68 out of the way, the cap piece 56 in turn may be removed to enable withdrawal of the whorl ,53 and the nozzle parts 33 and 42 as may be required occasionally to -clean them of any clogging matter.. Leakage of oil, likely to attend disassemblage of the nozzle parts 33 and 42 in the manner just explained, isy

caught by van underlying gutter 69 that is secured to the. front of the inductor 60 (see Fig. III). with sufficient tilt to direct the collected oil through a hole 7 0 in the frontal late 63' and into a continuation constituted y a downward offset 71 ofthe neck 62. The leakage oilis accordingly conducted through the inductor 60 and into the combustion zone within the furnace, thereby obviating exposure of oil accumulation `at the exterior and reducing the danger of fire from this source. 1 Referring again to the inductor 60, attention is directed to the .fact that the 'removable tube 65 sets apart a. surrounding chamber 72 within the body 61 with provision of annular portage eon'm'lunication at 73 with the neck. 62, whereby suction is created in said space concurrently with the passage of the combustible mixture at high velocity enroute to 'the furnace. Under such suction, an additional or auxiliary' supply of air is drawn into the inductor 60 through a number of rectangular pol'ts 74 in the frontal plate 63 under governance ofv so-called minus furnace such as like'ly to f exist when the full proportionate quantityl of combustion-supporting air is directly mixed with the fuel initially, and has the further advantage of minimizing the noise of furnace operation with my apparatus ns well as to render the combustion` perfect.. In the event of back pressure from within the furnace due to possible back firev at starting, the flap valves will be instantaneously forced'to closed position and thus prevent flame from escaping through the ports 74.

For the purpose of accurately maintaining 'a predetermined proportioning' of air and fuel delivery to the burner 19, I make provisions as follows: i l

Referring to Figs. I and IX, 77l indicates a control device which is governed by the pressure of the fuel flowing in the pipe 18. This device comprises a cylinder 78 in communication with 4the pipe 18V through a branch 79,. The fluid entering the cylinder 78 at the bottom, reacts against -a piston 8O that is subject -to the influence of a spring 81, and has a .rod 82 extending to the exterior through a stuffing box 83. Adjustable along a slot 84in the outer end of lthe rod 82, is a block 85 which engages a crank arm 86 on the pivot axis 87 of a butterfly vane 88 within the air conduit of the burner 19. Thel limit of movement of the butterfly vane 8.8.in one direction is determined by a set screw 89 ythat projects into the path of the crankarm 86. By adjusting the block 85 a'long the slot 84 of thevpiston rod 82, it will he Seen that the said ext-ent of lost motion between the piston rod and crank arm 86 may be regulated as required to permit a certain amount of flexibility in thc operation of the butterfly vane 88 to ofi'- set any spasmodic actuations in the cylinder 78. By virtue of being connected to the fuel pipe 18, the control device 77 is at all times subject to the pressure of the oil, and therefore also directly to the flow thereof` such variations being transmitted to the piston 80, and by the latter, through the various instrun'ieiitalities described, to the butterfly vane 88 which accordingly changes its position to permit either an increased or dccreased flow of air through the body of the burner 25 for commingling with the vaporized fuel discharged from the nozzle tip 33. A pipe connection 79a conducts any leakage which lnay pass the piston 80 to the suction side of the pump 16, see Fig. I;

As a means to regulate admission of air into the blower 25, a. louver control, such as comprehensively designated 90 in Figs. I,

Xv and XI is provided, the same being se-r cured over the blower intake opening 91 by screws or other convenient fasteningl means 92. The fixed part 93'A of the louver control 90 has at the'front and also intervals circumferent-ially, inlets 94; while the companion part 95 is movable about the first under support of an axial screw stud 96 in adjusting L valved pipe 101, the flame from the pilot being projected into the combustion zone within the furnace through an opening 102 in the .neck 62 of the inductor 60. Associated with the pi'lot burner 100 is a thermostatic control device 103 which embodies a yoke 104 of expansible metal with an orifice 105 through which the pi'lot flame plays.

Under' the action of the heat, the yoke 104 is normally maintained in an expanded conv .dition to hold contacts 106, 107 closed, this action being opposed by aI leaf spring 108.

vlThe contac-tslOG, 107 are housed in a. protective casing 109 and interposed in the conductors 110,` 111 constituting the power line to the electric motor 26.

In the event of the pilot flame going out,

attendant contraction of'the yoke 104 will be followed by automatic opening of the contacts 106, 107, interruption of current to the motor 26 and stoppage of the apparatus so that flooding of the furnace with oil cannot possibly take place. A suitable switch 112 is also interposed in the motor circuit at a convenient vpoint between the source of the power and the apparatus.

The operation of the apparatus as a- Whole is thought to be obvious from the foregoing without necessitating a detailed sequential description. In this connection it is however to be pointed out that, when once started, the apparatus needs but little attention since it is entirely fool proof under protec- -tion against flooding afforded by the thermostatic control 103 for stopping of the motor 26 in the event of failure of the pilot flame. Moreover, by virtue of being exceedingly compact and self contained the apparatus requires but very little space for its accommodation, and may be installed with minimum labor and expense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a furnace-firing apparatus 'of the character described, the combination of a carbureting burner, mea-ns supplying liquid fuel to said burner, a blower for concurrently supplying combustion-supporting air to the burner for commingling with said fuel, means adjustable to regulate admission of air to the lower, means automatically operated by the fuel delivery pressure to govern the passage. of air from the blower to the burner, and separate gravity-influenced automatic means supplying an auxiliary' uns4 quantity of air proportionate with the velocity of the fuel mixture tothe discharge from the burner while enroute to the furnace.

2. In furnace-firing apparatus of the character described, the combination of a carburcting nozzle burner, an aligned inductor comprising a 'hollow body with an axial outlet neck leading into the furnace, a frontal closure plate, and an axial tube setting apart a. surrounding chalnber within the hollow body with provisions of annular portage communication into the neck aforesaid for induction of an auxiliary supply of air under suction induced by the passing fuel mixture from the burner, flapvalves in the frontal closure plate that admit such auxiliary air proportionate with the velocity of the fuel mixture, a connector bridging an interval between the burner-'and the inductor while acting to hold the axial tube aforesaid in place, and a screw coupling in turn serving to hold the connector in place with capacity for ready removal for access to the nozzle of the burner, and withdrawal of the aforementioned axial tube for access to the interior of the inductor.

3. 1n furnace-firing apparatus of the character described, the combination of a carbureting oil burner, an aligned inductor including a co-axial removable insert for conducting the combustible mixture from l y l the burner into the furnace, sald inductor` 4. A self contained apparatus for firing' furnaces with liquid fuel comprising a carbureting burner a pump for continuously feeding fuel to the burner, a blower for concurrently supplying combustion-supporting air, means incorporated in the burner for individually gyrating the fuel and air, a driving motor common to the pump and blower, an inductor aligned with the burner to conduct the fuel mixture into the furnace, said inductor embodying a series of gravit -fall flap-Valves automatically-actuated by the velocity of the fuel mixture to admit an auxiliary supply of air preventive of a minus furnace, and a bed platp rious parts aforesaid are supported in operative relation.

In testimony whereof I- have hereunto signed m name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this th day of June, 1925.

t JAMES D. LALOR.

by which the va-.

sof 

